Matthew 25

I just spent most of nap time (for the littles, not me today), trying to make sense of a response by a New Perspective on Paul guy, to a John Piper book.. who is anti - new perspective, and wholeheartedly in agreement with imputed righteousness.  Just writing that sentence has me confused again.  And while I'm sure I could fumble my way around the basic argument of the two men, I most definitely could not intelligently do it for anyone else's understanding, or learning.  My head began to hurt at page 6 out of 38, and therefore I resigned that I was not a scholar and there were more important things to concern myself with.

This does not at all mean that I do not care for the study of doctrine or theological beliefs.  I'm becoming a Catholic, for crying out loud.  They formed an entire Catechism to explain their doctrines.  I believe that searching for historical accuracy and truths are important.  But dissecting the grammatical usages and intentions of a word by Paul are not as high on my priority list as making sure whether or not I am kneeling before a lay piece of bread, or the Body of Christ. 

It hit me, after a few 'Lord Help Me Get This' prayers, reading over the argument, that although these discussions are probably needed, and it is good for Biblical scholars, who do this for a vocation, to be the best at what they do... that might not be my calling, as a lay person.  Because all I could think about as I fumbled through it, was Matthew 25. 

When I reach the Hope to which I am striving; Heaven, and I gaze on my Savior, I could not imagine his first question being,
"So Kim, what did you come to believe about imputed Righteousness.. I would like to know what you thought when Paul used the passive voice with indirect objects concerning his phraseology for certain terms."
Yep, nope.  I don't think the Lord will ask that.

Yet, he will probably ask me the same questions he asked his followers.  Who did you say that I am?  Did you believe me when I said it was my Body?  Did you do anything for the least of these, thereby doing it for me? 

In short.  He will ask me if I loved him, and if I did, what I did to show it.  Matthew 25.  It's been burning in my mind for a while now.  And it is a terrifying passage.
"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food.  I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.  Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? 
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.  And these will go off into eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Terrifying, correct?  No matter what your views on salvation theology.. once saved, always saved, the ability to lose salvation, ect.. that verse has to make you stop; and think, and then act.

C.S. Lewis had a great quote:
"Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses."

The Body of Christ is the sacrament, it is Him.  Your neighbor is a soul within a body, created by the Living God, therefore serving them is serving God. 

Mother Therese also said,
“I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.”

I think she got Matthew 25.  And I'm sure that talking to her about it in Heaven will be a lot more interesting than discussing the verbage of words.  Now I've got to go and prayerfully figure out what that is, so that when I get there, it's not a one sided conversation.